RUNwithGOD

We're really good at faking it (or how you can get involved in CFPB Media)

Last night at Media ADVANCED TRAINING at CFDT someone said to me: "Oh, you don't need any help at CFPB. You guys have your act together." I laughed, and said that they had no idea...

Then I started to think... and think... and I started mapping out on my whiteboard/wall...

Because we value our volunteers, we need more volunteers...

I've served in churches where I was overworked/overstretched as a Media volunteer, and when I took the position at Christ Fellowship, I promised myself I would not do that to my volunteers. I would value their sacrifice and not overstretch their willingness to serve.

Some of my volunteers work one service a week... and that's awesome... until someone goes on vacation and I'm short volunteers. Some volunteers work all four services on a weekend... and that's awesome... until they do that four weeks straight and are exhausted from serving...

So, we're in the process of setting up a rotation, so as not to burn out anyone involved in the CFPB Weekend Worship Experience.

And, to completely fill that rotation, I need another 28 people...

To put that into perspective, right now 30-35 people serve every wknd at CFPB in media. I have 45-50 active volunteers... and I'd love 28 more...

Some positions are simple.
Some are incredibly difficult.
Some are low stress.
Some are very stressful.
Some serve one service a wknd.
Some serve all wknd. One wknd on, Two wknds off.

In whatever capacity, in however you express your creativity, we would love to have you involved in serving at CFPB in Media.

Areas we need the most help: TV Camera Operators, ProPresenter/Computer Operators, Media Cart Volunteers, Classic Service Technicians...

For more information, holler at me via Twitter/Facebook/Email jreed [at] cfmiami [dot] org or call 305/238-1818.

Media ADVANCED TRAINING @ CFDT... THANKS!

Thanks to the 20-some volunteers who showed up to the ADVANCED TRAINING seminar tonight at CFDT. It was great to see so many people actively learning how to volunteer better! And thanks to the five volunteers who helped teach these seminars! It was awesome!

The next ADVANCED TRAINING seminar will be as part of the Ministry Rally at CFPB Friday, February 6th. I'll publish the list of seminars later this week here on RUNwithGOD.com

See you then!

Answering the pager (or why Caitlyn ended up in Eric's MSG this wknd)

Let me walk you through the experience that was my "today".

For starters, I was "supposed" to be at CFPB all day today, but a string of phone calls had me campus hopping, so by the time I made it back to CFPB 12:30 service, I had actually seen four services in 24 hours...

Amy ran ProPresenter/IMAG for the 10:30am service, and I asked her to cover the 12:30pm service. She checked on Caitlyn inbetween services in the nursery. Caitlyn was sleeping and fine, so Amy started the 12:30 service for me.

At the beginning of Eric's message, I was upstairs in the control room, working on a couple other things while sitting next to Amy when it happened... the nursery pager rang... something's wrong with Caitlyn...

Amy and I stare at each other. She starts to go to the nursery to check on Caitlyn. I tell her to stay since she was familiar with the message. I'll go check on Caitlyn.

I walked into the nursery, and Caitlyn was wailing her head off. The nursery worker gives her to me. I try to calm her down inside, but it's not working. I think "hey, I'll go sit in the Infant Room in the worship center and keep tabs on the service."

Well, the Infant Room was packed, so I decided to stand out in the lobby with Caitlyn. I was sitting in a chair, watching the message on TV, when I hear Eric say something unusual: "I'm sorry. I'm very ADD, and there's something over here making a noise."

I jump up, realizing that there was a problem onstage, and try to find someone to take this baby so I can take care of the problem onstage... long story short, Caitlyn and I ended up walking the aisle towards Eric, who was flipping switches on a bass amp. While walking up there I'm trying to think through how I am going to fix a noisy bass amp while holding my four month old daughter...

By the time we got to the front of the stage, he had resolved the issue. He saw me, and was taken back by the site of me having my daughter in the service, standing at the front of the stage (mental note Jeff: don't have a burp cloth draped over your shoulder). Eric cracks some joke about how his daughter, Eden, is better looking than Caitlyn (which we all know is a lie), and he goes back into his message.

After the service I told the camera guys that next time this happens, work me in the shot. If I'm going to be in front of the worship center, I want myBabyGirl to be on the screens.

Respect for your elders...

Instructions:

1) Watch the vid below
2) Tell me which song was the worst/most innapropriate. Twit/Fbook/Comment below.

Enjoy, jreed

When is the new iPhone coming out (or what is Apple's Product Cycles)

Probably the #1 Question I get asked is: "So, should I buy [an Apple device] today? Or is Apple coming out with new stuff soon?"

NYTimes writer David Pogue recently interviewed Phil Schiller, Apple's Marketing Guru... among other things, Phil gave us a peak at the future of Apple product development...

"[Phil] noted that Apple marches to certain annual product cycles: the holiday season (Novemberish), the educational buying season (late summer), the iPod product cycle (October), the iLife development cycle (usually March), the iPhone cycle (June)."

So there you have it... If you're getting ready to buy products during that time period, maybe you should wait... If you're no where near that season, you'll probably be okay...

Of course, if Apple breaks their own "policies" by releasing products in odd-seasons... don't come crying to me...

MEDIA ADVANCED TRAINING @ CFDT - January 26, 2009

Got the dates and seminars settled for CF Media's first ADVANCED TRAINING seminar of 2009...

We're going to be at Christ Fellowship Downtown (directions), Monday, January 26 - 7pm. Sign up by filling out the form below.

The next ADVANCED TRAINING opportunity will be part of CF's next MINISTRY RALLY, February 6, 2009 at Christ Fellowship Palmetto Bay.

Jesus Uncensored, the Playlist

This weekend, CF is launching "Jesus Uncensored" - a six week series looking into the true character of Christ.

It's amazing to me how different cultures over the years view Christ... Our creative team did a lot of research to find, musically, how Christ is represented (or misrepresented).

I've thrown a bunch of the songs we found online in an iTunes iMix. Check them out... but first... Listener discretion is advised.

I'm not endorsing these morally or theologically.
Some of these songs get Jesus. Some of them don't.
Some of them are looking for a Savior. Some are looking, they're just not sure for what.

But while the world thinks they've grasped the concept of Christ... Biblically we know him to be something else...

Come find the "Uncensored" Jesus @ Christ Fellowship. See you this weekend.

Geiger, on Finance? Really?

Christ Fellowship Exec Pastor (and author once, twice) Eric Geiger has been asked by Neue Ministry to write a series of posts on, er, finances. Really. No, I'm not kidding.

Check out Eric's first post, Why is this guy writing about finances?. More coming soon, I'm sure. I'll keep you updated.

Macbook Wheel - NOT coming soon...

I love Apple spoofs!

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Seriously, Macworld Expo Keynote is this afternoon. Look for my 2cents tomorrow night (after small group).

Thanks to Nathan Hale for the find.

Systems for Multisite Campuses Media Support

As I've indicated, 2009 is the year of the "System"...

I wanted to take a moment to discuss a couple new systems that we are putting into place to help our Multisite Campuses step up to the next level:

1) ADVANCED TRAINING: If you've ever been to one of CF's Ministry Rallys, you can appreciate the emphasis that we put on training. Once a month we are going to do Media Training at a different CF Campus. In January we are going to be at CFDT, February CFPB for Ministry Rally, March CFR, etc.

The goal of ADVANCED TRAINING is to train Media Volunteers how to do things better. Instead of training during a service where things can be a little chaotic, we're opting to gather everyone together and help them learn how to run their systems better on a weeknight where there's more time to talk. Check out the Seminars we've taught in the past...

We are opening ADVANCED TRAINING up to any new or existing volunteer on any CF campus. Adult venue or Age-Graded venue, you're more than welcome to attend. Get with your Worship Leader or Age-Graded Director and let them know you are wanting to attend. If you're with another church, we'd love to have you too. Email me at jreed[at]cfmiami[dot]org.

I'll blog date/times (and the specific Seminars) for the January ADVANCED TRAINING once we get it finalized. See you there.

2) CF HEROES: Several months ago we started a Multisite Tech Support Program called Heroes. We're fine-tuning the system and looking for help.

With CF Heroes we are looking for Technologically Aware people to help occasionally provide TECH SUPPORT, to fix problems when they pop up, at our Multisite Campuses. So if you're an Audio Guy, A Video Guy, an IT Guy, an Electrician, or you understand the basics of Signal Flow, be a HERO. Email hero[at]cfmiami[dot]org and help save a Multisite Campus by providing TECH SUPPORT.

Just this past week CFR had a problem with their audio system. When problems pop up, we need Heroes to arrive on the scene to:
1) diagnose the problem
2) fix the problem... or
3) figure out a "Plan B" where the service can still function.

Sounds scary, I know, but it's a lot of fun, especially for the HERO. (CFR's issue was a blown channel on their amp. We ended up installing a completely different speaker setup that was "borrowed" from another campus for their second service.) Plus, you really are a "Hero" when the problem is fixed... the people at the Multisite Campus are very appreciative. It's a cool thing.

CFPB Media Peeps. Many of you are moving to a "one week on, one week off" rotation. I've heard from many of you that you're willing to still help in your "one week off"... this would be a GREAT THING for you to help out with. Use your Media knowledge to help other campuses! See me ASAP.

These are two different ways that Christ Fellowship volunteers are serving in Media, working hard to help campuses all over Miami. Thanks for investing your time. We could not do this without you.

Couple Surprises on a Friday

Had a couple surprises today... first off was myBabyGirl(s) surprising me on Google VideoChat. That is, in case you're curious, a big 'ol honkin smile underneath my goatee. I love myBabyGirl(s) and would drop just about anything to talk with them. Beowulf even stopped by for a brief visit.

Secondly, (and not nearly as cool), saw a rumor that the new Mac Minis will gain support for Dual Displays. Instead of just having one DVI output, the Minis will have two... which means that, if true, this is an incredibly cheap option to run ProPresenter/ProVideoPlayer from.

Come on, Apple! Give us an economic option for Dual Displays!

Hopefully, more surprises like this will be coming soon...